Terminator Genisys Producers Discuss Schwarzenegger With A Shotgun, Emotional Investment, and More

The Terminator is back. With Terminator Genysis right in theaters this week, Comicbook.com sat down with producers David Ellison (Star Trek: Into Darkness, Mission Impossible:Rogue Nation) and Dana Goldberg (Skydance Productions) to discuss Arnold Schwarzenegger's latest robe-romp. Below, the duo spoke their work on the movie, and what it was like stepping into such an important movie franchise.

How emotionally invested are you in Terminator: Genisys? Have you invested a lot of emotional energy into this project?

Ellison: "Hugely! My parents let me see the movie when I was a kid and I loved it. It's the reason that I wanted to make movies from that point on. So, we're huge fans and have a lot of baggage."

Goldberg: Sarah Connor is such an awesome character – how could you not want to work on that? I loved her from the start."

Who were you most excited to bring onto Terminator Genisys, either behind the camera or in front of it?

Goldberg: [Laughs] That answer has to be Arnold Schwarzenegger in the iconic role of the T-800. How could it not be? He's so good in the movie.

Ellison: "I'm also a huge Game of Thrones fan, so the opportunity to have Emilia Clarke in the role of Sarah Connor and to be able to watch her work is pretty amazing."

What was the most challenging part of making of Terminator Genisys? As producers, where does the greatest amount of problem-solving come? Pre-production, filming or post-production?

Goldberg: "All of the above!"

Ellison: "It never stops for us."

Putting the project's trials aside, what was the coolest moment working on Terminator Genisys?

Ellison: "The first night of shooting with Arnold, when he fired off that shot gun so fast without blinking. Everyone was sitting behind the camera and I had the biggest s#!t-eating grin on my face!"

Goldberg: "There's a quiet moment toward the end of the movie where Sarah Connor faces a young Kyle Reese. The original Terminator movie is, at its heart, a love story. The movie doesn't work without the line: 'I came across time for you, Sarah.' In Genisys, Sarah has a moment with Kyle – and Emilia plays it so well – where she imbues him with strength and it's really lovely."

One of the biggest questions Terminator Genisys will leaves audiences with, is who sent the T-800 to protect Sarah Connor? Is this a question that you'll answer in future Terminator movies?

Ellison: "All of our focus is on this movie right now, and getting the best movie that we can put to our audience. We want to intrigue them."

Goldberg: The answer is out there somewhere! [Laughs]

What should fans look forward to seeing the most in Terminator Genisys?

Goldberg: Great homages, big action, amazing special effects and a good story.

Ellison: Agreed. I wish that I had the chance to answer that question first.

What are you most excited for in Terminator: Genisys? Let us know in the comments!

Terminator: Genisys hits theaters on July 1. Want to know when Hollywood's other big blockbusters will hit the screen? Check out Comicbook.com's Franchise Movie Release Schedule here!